Gordon Brown called on defence chiefs yesterday to give a Purple Heart-style medal to men and women killed or wounded in action.

His decision to speak out on his visit to the US is a huge boost to the Mirror's Honour the Brave campaign.

As he spoke the bodies of two airmen killed in Afghanistan arrived home. US servicemen and women killed or injured in battle are awarded the Purple Heart.

Mr Brown believes the sacrifice of British heroes and their families should be recognised in the same way.

A medal could be included in plans to boost recognition and reward for troops. Mr Brown has told MP Quentin Davies to draw up proposals to be published soon.

Aides said the PM believes Britain can learn a lot from the way America treats servicemen and women.

He is impressed at the way the profile of the forces is boosted through homecoming parades and links with sports clubs. The US air force stages flybys at high-profile events, such as American football's Superbowl.

An aide said Mr Brown had noticed the forces were "a constant feature of American life while it is all too often a forgotten feature of life in Britain".

Senior Ministers, defence officials and many MPs have backed the Mirror's campaign. Military chiefs have obstructed the move.

Pearl Thrumble, 44, of Chelmsford, Essex, whose son John, 21, was killed in Afghanistan last year, said: "This is great news. I am delighted he appears to be listening." Meanwhile, the bodies of Senior Aircraftmen Gary Thompson, 51, of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment, and Graham Livingstone, 23, of the RAF Regiment, arrived at RAF Lyneham in Wilts.

They were killed by a roadside bomb near Kandahar on Sunday.

Gary, of Nottingham, said before going to Afghanistan that he wanted women there "to be given the same opportunity" his five daughters have had.

"It comes from a PM who seems to havegreater appreciation of the forces than their own chiefs of staff. The Purple Heart is America's most revered medal. It epitomises the respect the US shows to those who make enormous sacrifices for their country. Something that has been sadly lacking over here.

"The level of support has been overwhelming but our chiefs of staff have shown inexplicable caution - something unacceptable in combat."